NICOSIA — Iran has reported the development of an unmanned
submarine that would be deployed in the Gulf.

Officials said the unmanned underwater vessel was a stealth platform
that could infiltrate enemy defenses.

Iran has sought to enhance its naval capabilities to defeat any U.S.
attack in the Gulf. Teheran has also reported the development of a torpedo with a
range of 300 kilometers, Middle East Newsline reported.

Over the last five years, Iran has reported the development of several
underwater vessels, including a mini-submarine meant for reconnaissance and
sabotage missions. Officials said Iran was also working on a conventional
naval submarine.

Najar said Iran has also developed a stealth surface vessel. He said the
naval platforms along with sea-based weapons underwent recent trials.

In July 2008, Iran launched an enhanced Fajr-3 rocket. The Islamic
Revolutionary Guards Corps, which launched the weapon, said Fajr-3 could
evade enemy radar detection.

Western analysts asserted that Iran was resorting to fabrication in its
announcements of weapons and platform development. They said Iran's claim of
firing an enhanced extended-range Shihab-3 ballistic missile in the Great
Prophet-3 exercise in July was false. Instead, Iran fired legacy Shihab-3
missiles, first seen in 1998.